Tag: official

Multiple outlets have reported that Butina’s plea deal includes an agreement to cooperate with investigators. Read Butina’s plea deal with federal prosecutors here. But her lawyers and federal prosecutors on Monday asked U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan for a hearing to change Butina’s plea. A spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry told CNN that Butina struck the plea deal “to survive,” and suggested the arrest was politically motivated. Read the full plea deal below:

Multiple outlets have reported that Butina’s plea deal includes an agreement to cooperate with investigators. CNN reported Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the case, that Butina has already offered information to investigators about an American she allegedly conspired with, as well as a Russian official alleged to have directed her U.S. activities.

Her violation carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A hearing was planned for February to discuss a date for sentencing.

Read Butina’s plea deal with federal prosecutors here.

Butina was first charged by U.S. prosecutors in July. They alleged that she infiltrated U.S. organizations and cultivated relationships to advance a Russian agenda without registering as a foreign agent.

The 30-year-old purported gun rights activist came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2016, and allegedly worked to develop and “exploit” relationships with politically influential figures and organizations, including the NRA.

Butina had originally pleaded not guilty to prosecutors’ charges. But her lawyers and federal prosecutors on Monday asked U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan for a hearing to change Butina’s plea.

She has been in a northern Virginia jail since July, when prosecutors argued that she posed an “extreme risk of flight” because the charges against her also implicated “the activities of a senior Russian Federation official” who is believed to be Alexander Torshin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The case is not directly linked to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as possible obstruction of justice and potential collusion between Trump campaign-related figures and the Kremlin.

Court documents show Butina lived with a U.S. man in his 50s who has been identified as Paul Erickson, a Republican activist and NRA member. The Daily Beast reported last week that a lawyer for Erickson was sent a “target letter” informing him that prosecutors were considering charging Erickson with secretly acting as an agent for a foreign government. The letter also reportedly said prosecutors were weighing whether to charge him with conspiracy.

A spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry told CNN that Butina struck the plea deal “to survive,” and suggested the arrest was politically motivated.

The Foreign Ministry had reacted to Butina’s charges with outrage, launching a “Free Maria Butina” social media campaign and posting a photo of the alleged agent’s face to the ministry’s official Twitter account.

But Putin on Tuesday said that “nobody” at his country’s spy agencies knows a thing about her.

“She risks 15 years in jail. For what?” Putin asked. “I asked all the heads of our intelligence services what is going on. Nobody knows anything about her.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has backed plans to request $750 billion from Congress for defense spending next year, a U.S. official said on Sunday, signaling a Pentagon spending hike at a time of potential belt-tightening elsewhere in the government. The $750 billion would be even more than the $733 billion request that the Pentagon had been expected to make for fiscal year 2020. It is also well above a $700 billion figure Trump cited in October. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymit

U.S. President Donald Trump has backed plans to request $750 billion from Congress for defense spending next year, a U.S. official said on Sunday, signaling a Pentagon spending hike at a time of potential belt-tightening elsewhere in the government.

Trump, faced with a budget deficit at a six-year high, told his Cabinet earlier this year to come up with proposals to cut spending by their agencies by 5 percent, but he suggested the military would be largely spared.

The $750 billion would be even more than the $733 billion request that the Pentagon had been expected to make for fiscal year 2020. It is also well above a $700 billion figure Trump cited in October.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had discussed the budget with Trump in recent days and outlined the risks of flat defense spending.

The official said that it was clear during that discussion that Trump wanted to “accelerate the progress his administration has made in rebuilding the military.”

Tesla is on pace to begin production at its factory in China in the second half of next year, the Shanghai government said Wednesday. Land leveling is basically complete and construction is about to begin, with the factory expected to be put partially into operation in the second half of 2019, according to an official WeChat post from the government. The article described a visit by Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong and Vice Mayor Wu Qing. In mid-October, Tesla officially acquired an 864,885-square meter

Tesla is on pace to begin production at its factory in China in the second half of next year, the Shanghai government said Wednesday.

Land leveling is basically complete and construction is about to begin, with the factory expected to be put partially into operation in the second half of 2019, according to an official WeChat post from the government. The article described a visit by Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong and Vice Mayor Wu Qing.

Tesla did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

In mid-October, Tesla officially acquired an 864,885-square meter plot in Shanghai’s Lingang area for the electric car maker’s first factory outside the U.S.

Elon Musk’s company has also launched an official WeChat account for hiring locals.

Producing in China, the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, would allow Tesla to reduce costs significantly. The company has said it is operating at a 55 percent to 60 percent cost disadvantage with a domestic peer due to ocean transport costs and tariffs.

US and China hammer out 90-day trade truce — Seven experts break down what that means for investors 11 Hours Ago | 04:21China is reportedly confused by the Trump administration’s version of what happened in Buenos Aires. It’s just madness,” the former official, who asked for anonymity to describe confidential discussions, told the Post. The White House said the nations had agreed to a 90-day truce on trade. Following the meeting, Trump told reporters it was “an incredible deal” and that it “goes

US and China hammer out 90-day trade truce — Seven experts break down what that means for investors 11 Hours Ago | 04:21

China is reportedly confused by the Trump administration’s version of what happened in Buenos Aires.

After the key meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, officials from Beijing are “puzzled and irritated” by the Trump administration’s behavior, The Washington Post reported Tuesday, citing a former U.S. government official who has been in contact with the Chinese officials.

“You don’t do this with the Chinese. You don’t triumphantly proclaim all their concessions in public. It’s just madness,” the former official, who asked for anonymity to describe confidential discussions, told the Post.

The two world leaders met over dinner during the G-20 summit in Argentina last week. The White House said the nations had agreed to a 90-day truce on trade. Following the meeting, Trump told reporters it was “an incredible deal” and that it “goes down, certainly, if it happens, it goes down as one of the largest deals ever made.”

But the Post reported that the Chinese have not acknowledged a 90-day deadline for the talks and have not said that they would “immediately” increase purchases of U.S. farm goods.

“The results of the discussions in Buenos Aires are positive, but contrary to President Trump’s enthusiastic comments, did not result in a breakthrough.” The president’s broad conclusions about the trade agreement also didn’t mesh with Chinese state media’s more measured descriptions. The White House did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment overnight. Political watchers were quick to highlight the contrast between Trump’s lofty proclamations and the official statement from the W

“The results of the discussions in Buenos Aires are positive, but contrary to President Trump’s enthusiastic comments, did not result in a breakthrough.”

In a statement, the White House press secretary said Beijing will agree to purchase “a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial” amount of U.S. agricultural, energy, industrial and other products in order “to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries.”

During the talks at the G-20 meeting, the two superpowers agreed to delay additional taxes on each other’s goods for the next 90 days — during which time they will try to overcome difficult differences including “forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft.”

The president’s broad conclusions about the trade agreement also didn’t mesh with Chinese state media’s more measured descriptions.

The White House did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment overnight.

Political watchers were quick to highlight the contrast between Trump’s lofty proclamations and the official statement from the White House.

Trump’s comments “show his number one priority is the appearance of being a great dealmaker,” said Mintaro Oba, a former U.S. State Department official who specialized in the Koreas during the Obama administration. “It doesn’t matter to him what the details are, as long as he looks strong to his supporters.”

“When it comes to anything associated with him, especially deals, things can’t just be good, they have to be best,” Oba continued.

The 50-point mark is considered neutral territory, indicating no growth in activity or contraction on a monthly basis. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast the official gauge would hold steady from October’s low level, suggesting marginal growth. The production sub-index fell to 51.9 in November from 52 in October, while a new orders sub-index — an indicator of future activity — declined to 50.4 from 50.8. New export orders shrank for a sixth straight month. Another sister survey released b

Growth in China’s vast manufacturing sector stalled for the first time in over two years in November as new orders shrank, adding pressure on Beijing ahead of high-stakes trade talks between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump this weekend.

The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released on Friday, fell to 50 in November, missing market expectations and down from 50.2 in October.

The 50-point mark is considered neutral territory, indicating no growth in activity or contraction on a monthly basis.

Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast the official gauge would hold steady from October’s low level, suggesting marginal growth.

The downbeat reading on China’s factory activity came a day ahead of a closely watched dinner meeting between Trump and Xi on the sidelines of a G-20 summit in Buenos Aires, their first meeting since the two nations began imposing tariffs on each other’s goods earlier this year.

But few market watchers expect a major breakthrough in the trade dispute, as neither side has indicated any intention of making major concessions.

The Trump administration has pointed to growing signs of economic weakness in China and its slumping stock markets as proof that the United States is winning the trade war.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Tuesday that Trump is ready to hike tariffs and could add duties on another $267 billion of Chinese imports if there is no breakthrough in the meeting.

The China PMI survey showed further weakness in new orders from at home and abroad.

The production sub-index fell to 51.9 in November from 52 in October, while a new orders sub-index — an indicator of future activity — declined to 50.4 from 50.8.

New export orders shrank for a sixth straight month. The sub-index rose marginally to 47 from 46.9 in October.

Chinese manufacturers’ import orders also shrank, falling to 47.1 from 47.6 in October and reflecting weakening domestic demand.

China’s exports have been surprisingly resilient so far this year as shippers rush out goods to beat U.S. tariffs, but orders have been slumping for months, raising the risk of a sharp drop soon if the U.S. raises tariffs as planned on Jan. 1.

Another sister survey released by the NBS on Friday showed growth in China’s service sector moderated in November, but remained at solid levels. The official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dipped to 53.4 from 53.9 the previous month.

1 Hour Ago | 05:12The U.S. has already put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods, and could slap duties on an additional $267 billion in imports. Beijing has responded with tariffs on $110 billion in U.S. goods targeting politically important industries such as agriculture. Trump, who campaigned in 2016 on cracking down on what he called Chinese trade abuses, comes into the meeting with a specific set of demands. The White House has shown optimism about making progress, but Trump has threaten

The G-20 summit is underway, but what does it mean for investors? 1 Hour Ago | 05:12

The U.S. has already put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods, and could slap duties on an additional $267 billion in imports. Beijing has responded with tariffs on $110 billion in U.S. goods targeting politically important industries such as agriculture.

Trump, who campaigned in 2016 on cracking down on what he called Chinese trade abuses, comes into the meeting with a specific set of demands. He wants to address alleged Chinese theft of intellectual property, forced technology transfers, ownership of American companies in China, and tariffs and nontariff barriers, among other issues.

The White House has shown optimism about making progress, but Trump has threatened even more tariffs if the sides cannot reach a deal. Washington and Beijing appeared to have a difficult task in striking a concrete trade agreement even as Trump seeks a political win on one of his signature issues.

On Friday, a senior administration official said Trump “doesn’t feel pressure to make a deal for the sake of a deal” and feels “he has more time.” The president has gotten information from advisors that the economy “continues to show resilience and strength” despite a recent slide in U.S. stock prices, the official said.

Here is a timeline of the U.S.-China trade conflict during the Trump era that led up to the dinner, and the products the tariffs have affected so far:

With the carmaking alliance facing its biggest test after the ousting of Ghosn as chairman of Nissan and affiliate Mitsubishi over financial misconduct allegations, President Emmanuel Macron sat down with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. Ghosn’s arrest to face accusations including the under-reporting of income has triggered new attempts by Nissan to weaken Renault’s control of the Franco-Japanese alliance, adding to challenges facing Macron at home. Abe said it was

France and Japan’s leaders met for bilateral talks to avert a diplomatic row over the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance on Friday following the surprise arrest of its Chairman Carlos Ghosn in Japan.

With the carmaking alliance facing its biggest test after the ousting of Ghosn as chairman of Nissan and affiliate Mitsubishi over financial misconduct allegations, President Emmanuel Macron sat down with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires.

Ghosn’s arrest to face accusations including the under-reporting of income has triggered new attempts by Nissan to weaken Renault’s control of the Franco-Japanese alliance, adding to challenges facing Macron at home.

Macron, whose government has repeatedly pressed Japan to share evidence unearthed by Nissan’s internal investigation into Ghosn, “restated his firm wish that the alliance should be preserved, along with the stability of the group,” an Elysee official said after Friday’s meeting with Abe.

Abe said it was important to “maintain a stable relationship,” according to a spokesman for the Japanese leader.

“However, he said the future of the alliance is up to the private-sector shareholders. The government of Japan does not prejudge the future of the alliance,” the spokesman said.

The French official quoted Abe as telling Macron that “the legal process must be allowed to take its course.”

Facebook’s scandals may not cost CEO Mark Zuckerberg his board seat, but it could strip his name from a San Francisco public hospital, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin on Tuesday proposed removing Zuckerberg’s name from San Francisco General Hospital, which was renamed after the Facebook CEO and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated $75 million to the hospital’s foundation in 2015. In a statement, a spokesperson for the San Francisco city attorney’s off

Facebook’s scandals may not cost CEO Mark Zuckerberg his board seat, but it could strip his name from a San Francisco public hospital, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin on Tuesday proposed removing Zuckerberg’s name from San Francisco General Hospital, which was renamed after the Facebook CEO and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated $75 million to the hospital’s foundation in 2015. Chan previously worked at the hospital as a pediatrician.

Peskin cited Facebook’s series of scandals it has faced over the past year as he asked the city attorney to begin working on a procedure for removing Zuckerberg’s name, the Chronicle reported. At a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Peskin cited the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the recent New York Times report that Facebook hired a Republican opposition research firm to paint liberal financier George Soros as the force behind an anti-Facebook movement. Soros has been the target of anti-Semitic smears on the far right.

“It is not normal for private entities to use that information to spread, and in this case anti-Semitic, conspiracy theories on platforms they control,” Peskin said, according to The Chronicle. “It is not normal for Mark Zuckerberg and [Facebook Chief Operating Officer] Sheryl Sandberg to refuse to accept responsibility and to publicly distance themselves from acts that they have personally instigated. … This is about the integrity of institutions and spaces that are overwhelmingly funded by public money and taxpayer dollars.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the San Francisco city attorney’s office said of the proposal, “We have received a publicly disclosed request from a client to look at this. We do not have a policy position on the matter.”

At the time of the Zuckerberg-Chan donation, hospital officials believed it was the largest single private donation by individuals to a public hospital in the country, SFGate reported. In May, nurses at the hospital already began to protest the name, with one even taping over “Zuckerberg” on the hospital’s signage, The New York Times reported.

The hospital’s CEO Susan Ehrlich said in a statement that Zuckerberg and Chan’s gift has helped the hospital acquire new technology, support renovations and improve patient care and education.

“Naming is an important convention in philanthropy that encourages additional donors, and our hospital relies on the support of the community, the City and County of San Francisco, and generous private philanthropy,” Ehrlich said in the statement. “We are honored that Dr. Chan and Mr. Zuckerberg thought highly enough of our hospital and staff, and the health of San Franciscans, to donate their resources to our mission.”

Tech stocks continued to rally Wednesday as the Nasdaq Composite Index were up 3 percent by market close, marking its best day since Oct. 25. But the rally didn’t help Facebook much. Facebook’s other FAANG peers, which include Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google parent company Alphabet, all fared well in the rally. Just a day earlier, a Facebook official testified in front of representatives from nine parliaments about its practices where a Canadian lawmaker suggested Facebook be broken up. Later,

Tech stocks continued to rally Wednesday as the Nasdaq Composite Index were up 3 percent by market close, marking its best day since Oct. 25. But the rally didn’t help Facebook much. It only rose 1.3 percent.

Facebook’s other FAANG peers, which include Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google parent company Alphabet, all fared well in the rally. Amazon and Netflix each topped 6 percent. Apple rose 3.9 percent and Alphabet was up 3.8. Microsoft also saw a 3.7 percent lift.

Facebook has struggled to come back from a series of scandals that have continued to unfurl regarding the company’s practices for protecting customer data and stopping the spread of misinformation on its platform. Just a day earlier, a Facebook official testified in front of representatives from nine parliaments about its practices where a Canadian lawmaker suggested Facebook be broken up. Later, a former FTC official claimed that Facebook had even misled representatives in the testimony.

Also on Tuesday, a former employee released a note claiming, “Facebook has a black people problem.” On Wednesday, the company announced it is investing $1 million in a nonprofit program that offers free computer science courses to women and minorities.